You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Table Talk

Hypocrite -- Two faced

Acts 4:32-37 32 All the believers were united in heart and mind Acts 4:32-37 32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. 36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.

Because of this great revival and unity in the early church, the devil was displeased! First, he had tried to stop the church with intimidation / persecution… Acts 4:17 17 But to keep them (the disciples) from spreading their propaganda any further, we (Pharisees) must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.” 18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Acts 5:29 (NLT) 29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.

When Satan couldn’t stop the church from without through intimidation / persecution… , then he tried to stop it from within by corrupting the church! How did he try to do this? In walks Ananias and Sapphira.

Acts 5:1-11 5 But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” 5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. 6 Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.

7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” 9 And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” 10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.

That’s an interesting story, but how does that apply to me?

How many times do we sing All to Jesus I Surrender…but not come back to church for just the slightest excuse. Or sing, Sweet Hour of Prayer, knowing we haven’t prayed 10 minutes! Teach children the song, O be careful little eyes…then surf the internet or TV lustfully My question isn’t why did he punish Ananias so swiftly, but why has he kept me alive knowing my heart, hearing my mind, and seeing my actions!

Jesus knew that hypocrites can become a stumbling block for others, and have a tendency to keep people out of God’s Kingdom. Matthew 23:13 (NLT) 13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.

Do you think people who claim to be Christians but poorly reflect Christ should be confronted?

Daily we must examine our lives and our motives Daily we must examine our lives and our motives. To avoid hypocrisy we must make sure that we are walking with God every day. Have we personally trusted in Christ as our Savior and Lord? Do we spend time in His Word and in prayer on a regular basis? Do we deal with the sin in our lives, especially when His Word confronts us with where we are wrong?

References Dead Hypocrites: Ananias and Sapphira -- Jerry Shirley When Not To Give -- Jeff Strite Liar Liar -- Brian Harvison Great God Great Giving – Brian Bill God’s Passion for a Pure Church – Johan Macarthur The Deadly Sin of Hypocrisy -- Stephen Cole